Let’s celebrate each other!

We are proud to once again bring our community together for SUNY Erie Celebrates, an inspiring morning honoring the Distinguished Alumni, Faculty, Staff, and Students who embody the mission of SUNY Erie and the ECC Foundation: to help Erie County and its people thrive through the power of education.

May 13th, 2026

Doors open at 8:00 a.m.
Program begins at 8:30 a.m.

The Admiral Room, 237 Main St, Buffalo
Tickets: $65 per person | $520 for a table of 8

We hope you’ll join us

2026 Honorees:

✨ Distinguished Alumni & Community Hero
Scott Bieler – President & CEO, West Herr Automotive Group

✨ Distinguished Alumni
Tara Burgess – President & CEO, EPIC

✨ SUNY Erie Faculty
Jason Januszkiewicz- Professor, Business Administration

✨ SUNY Erie Faculty
Andrew Sako – Chair, Building Trades

 Student – Heart of SUNY Erie
Ilmira Pazailova ‘26

 Inaugural KAT Scholar of Excellence
Tai Washington

 ✨ Community Heroes
AJ Baynes –President and CEO, Amherst Chamber of Commerce

Darnell Haywood – Community Responsibility Officer, BankOnBuffalo

Elizabeth McPartland – President and CEO, Child & Family Services

WNY Foster Closet